Children's small house in Tsarskoe Selo, Pavilion in Alexander Park of Tsarskoe Selo, Russia
The Children's Small House in Tsarskoe Selo is a pavilion situated on an island within Alexander Park, surrounded by water and landscaped grounds. The compact building features a drawing room and several smaller chambers designed for the children of the imperial household.
Architect Alexei Gornostayev designed and built this pavilion in 1830 as a dedicated play house for the children of Emperor Nicholas I. The structure was integrated into the imperial summer estate and served as a private retreat for the young members of the royal household.
The house displays marble busts of Karl Merder and poet Vasily Zhukovsky, who served as educators to the future Emperor Alexander II. These sculptures reflect the importance placed on learning within the imperial household and the influence of these men on the young heir.
The pavilion sits on an island accessible by pathways through the park grounds. Visitors should be aware that the site is under ongoing conservation and certain areas may occasionally be closed for restoration work.
The western side of the island contains a pet cemetery with preserved gravestones marking where the imperial family's dogs were buried. This hidden corner reveals an unexpected personal dimension of life at the imperial court.
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